We are currently working with an architect on the preliminary design for a single-family home. The architect recommends a partial basement for cost reasons. The planned partial basement would have a floor area of approximately 57m2 (613 sq ft) and would include a utility room, laundry room, and an additional storage room that could possibly be used as an office or hobby room. In terms of size, this would be sufficient for us. A full basement would have an area of about 118m2 (1,270 sq ft). We do not want to completely forgo having a basement.
Here in the forum, I have often read that a partial basement saves little cost because expenses for foundations, etc., must be offset. According to the architect, however, these costs are minor compared to the additional expenses for excavation and removal of soil, walls/masonry, doors, electrical work, windows, light wells, finishing, and so on.
The architect estimates the cost of the partial basement at around 50,000 EUR. For a full basement, his calculation adds about 40,000 EUR more, totaling approximately 90,000 EUR, which seems quite high to me. However, this would still represent a potential cost saving in my view.
What is your opinion? Does anyone have experience with the costs of partial versus full basements?
Here in the forum, I have often read that a partial basement saves little cost because expenses for foundations, etc., must be offset. According to the architect, however, these costs are minor compared to the additional expenses for excavation and removal of soil, walls/masonry, doors, electrical work, windows, light wells, finishing, and so on.
The architect estimates the cost of the partial basement at around 50,000 EUR. For a full basement, his calculation adds about 40,000 EUR more, totaling approximately 90,000 EUR, which seems quite high to me. However, this would still represent a potential cost saving in my view.
What is your opinion? Does anyone have experience with the costs of partial versus full basements?
S
Sebastian7913 Jan 2016 11:25Yes, we do as well.
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Sebastian7913 Jan 2016 12:34Yes, I already mentioned that. Disposing of clay is expensive – my sand was actually more "in demand."
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Peanuts7413 Jan 2016 14:56MarcWen schrieb:
What exactly is involved for you? Excavating 3 meters (10 feet) deep on a 100 square meter (1,076 square feet) footprint already amounts to around 300 cubic meters (10,600 cubic feet). If this soil also needs to be disposed of, costs can rise quickly.However, you forgot to account for the 1 meter (3 feet) working space and that the excavation needs to be sloped. For a 10 x 10 meter (33 x 33 feet) house, this quickly means an average footprint of 13 x 13 meters (43 x 43 feet) at 3 meters (10 feet) depth, resulting in over 500 cubic meters (17,700 cubic feet).